Conference
The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) is pleased to announce that the 17th annual Congress is set for December 1-4, 2009, in Melbourne, Australia, at host hotel the Grand Hyatt Melbourne. This year’s Congress is made possible with the incredible support of Host Broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Host State of Victoria.
Following a string of sold-out successes in Manchester (2006), New York (2007) and Florence (2008), this year’s Congress again promises to be a must-attend event for industry professionals working in specialist factual television. Last year’s record-breaking Congress, which sold out weeks prior to opening, welcomed more than 600 international broadcasters, producers and distributors from 26 countries. Exit surveys indicate that 89% of delegates were able to advance their projects at the Congress and 88% were able to find new production partners. The 2009 Congress promises more in-depth panels, valuable networking opportunities and once-in-a-lifetime social events all happening in Australia’s cultural centre.
This year’s WCSFP will feature an outstanding three-day program of workshops, networking events, pitch sessions, and panels that will reveal emerging content trends and highlight important industry issues. Last year, more than 200 broadcast representatives attended from such broadcasters as: ARTE, BBC, CBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel U.S., Discovery Channel Canada, Discovery Science, FIVE, France 5, National Geographic Int., NDR, NHK, ABC TV, Rai, WGBH, Thirteen/WNET and ZDF. The 2008 Congress achieved a better than two-to-one ratio of independent producers to broadcasters, ensuring plenty of valuable time for networking and deal-making.
The WCSFP will also feature the return of popular services including Meet the Commissioning Editor sessions, an on-demand video library of delegates’ productions, as well as evening networking events and special social activities that will take advantage of Melbourne’s many historic and cultural attractions.
The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers is a not-for-profit, member-run organization dedicated to celebrating the best in specialist factual production. Past Congresses have been held in Florence (2008), New York (2007), Manchester (2006), Tokyo (2005), Toronto (2004), Paris (2003), Berlin (2002), and Washington, D.C. (2001). It is administered by a board of directors and a steering committee that deals primarily with editorial matters. The 17th annual Congress is managed by Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on behalf of the WCSFP.
